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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 

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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



WHERE TO FIND 



The Healthiest Chrnate 



IN THE UNITED STATES 



AND SO FAR AS WE HAVE THE EVIDENCE, 



THE HEALTHIEST IN THE WORLD. 



AS INDICATED BY THE MEDICAL STATISTICS OF THE 

ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES, GREAT BRITAIN, 

FRANCE, ITALY, ETC. 



By E. Y. ROBBINS, 

Corresponding Member of the American Statistical Association. 



CINCINNATI : 
ROBERT CLARKE & COMPANY, 

1883. 




Copyrighted, 1883, 

BY 

E. Y. ROBBINS. 






It is very easy to talk and write about a 
certain region being " The Consumptive's 
Paradise," and a" Sanitarium for all Atflicted 
Humanity," with little to support the claim 
except bold assertions, wreathed in flowery 
language. But in the following pages the 
reader will find facts, not fancies ; and facts 
too numerous and authentic to be set aside. 
And in collecting and comparing these facts 
the writer has not at all been actuated by the 
desire to prove a theory, but simply to find 
out truth. 



Where sliall we seek recuperation and 
health? Where can we find the best climate 
in America — or in the world ? Is it in Florida ? 
or on the Mediterranean ? or in New Mexico 'i 
or California? Individual experience and 
opinion can determine notliing. It is only 
by the combination and comparison of great 

(3) 



4 

iiuinlicrs of carefully recorded facts that wc 
can arrive at any certainty about the matter. 
These facts or statistics we may tind in the 
records of sickness and death Avhich are kept 
at the militar}^ posts throughout the United 
States and other civilized countries. Let us 
?iee which way these point. 

OUR NORTH PACIFIC SLOPE COMPARED U'lTlI UTHEU 
PARTS or THE UNITED STATES. 

Taking the period from 1849 to I860, omit- 
ting fractions as much as possible, and taking 
the nearest whole numbers, we tind that the 
average number of deaths per annum, in every 
1,000 soldiers, by disease, was: 

In Florida 26 

In Southern Texas 50 

In Western Texas 20 

In New Mexico and Arizona 19 

And in tlie "Department of the Colum- 
bia," Oregon, Washington and Idaho, 
ou\y 9 

Between the years 1860 and 1867 the rate 
of mortality was disturbed and complicated 
by the war. 



During the years 1868 and 1869 there died, 
on the average, by disease, in every 1,000 
soldiers, annually : 

In Florida and tlic Southeast 10 

In Texas 11 

In New Mexico a little more than 8 

In Arizona 10. G 

In Colorado, Nebraska, Wyoming and 

Utah 67 

In California a little over (! 

In Montana, Dakota and MinnesvOta 4 

And in the Department of the Columbia, 

Oregon, Washington and Idaho, only.. 1 

During the period from 1870 to 1874 there 
died, in every 1,000 soldiers annually, by 
disease : 

III Florida and the Southeast 12 

In Texas, an average of about 16 

In Colorado, Nebraf^ka, "Wyoming and 

Utah 6 

In New Mexico, nearly 8 

In Arizona 15 

In California 7.8 

In Montana, Dakota and Minnesota 6 

And in the Department of the Columbia, 

Oregon, Washington and Idaho 5.4 

On taking the seven years from 1868 to 



6 



1874, inclusive, we have the average mortality 
per annum, in each 1,000 soldiers : 

In Florida and the Southeast about 14 

In Texas 13 

In Colorado, Nebraska, W3'oming and 

Utah 6.3 

In New Mexico 8 

In Montana, Dakota and Minnesota 5.5 

In Arizona 13 

In California 7.3 

And in the Department of the Columbia... 3.6 
(viz., Oregon, 3 ; Washington, 6 ; and Idaho 2, in 
each 1,000 troops.) 

Making a more brief and general estimate, 
we have for the seven years from 1874 to 1881, 
a death rate per annum, by disease, in 
Florida, Texas, New Mexico and Arizona of 
from 8 to 14 in every 1,000 soldiers ; while in 
Oregon, Washington and Idaho, the death rate, 
by the ofHcial record, was less than 4 per 1,000, 
(the exact figures, 3.74, being almost precisely 
the same as for the preceding seven years). 

Or let us compare the prevalence of cer- 
tain diseases in the different parts of the 
United States. In an equal number of 
soldiers in the different Departments during 



7 



the years 1868 and 1869, the number of cases 
of sickness, (not deaths), by malarial fever, 
stood nearly in the following proportion : 

III the Department of the East 30 

III the Department of the South 60 

Department of the Lakes 50 

Department of Texas 80 

New Mexico, Indian Territory, Kansas, 

Arkansas, and Missouri, over.. 40 

Wyoming, Nebraska and Utah 20 

Montana, Dakota and Minnesota, nearly-... 10 
Department of the Columbia (Oregon, 

Washington and Idaho) , 10 

Department of California 20 

Department of Arizona 160 

Or compare the mortality, in the different 
sections, by that great destroyer of human 
life. Consumption, and other respiratory 
diseases. Taking the period from 1850 to 
1860 there died annually in every 1,000 sol- 
diers, by consumption, pneumonia, etc.: 

In Florida, an average of 2.75 

In Texas 3 

In New Mexico and Arizona 3.15 

In California, a little more than 3 

In the Department of the Columbia, 

Oregon, Washington ar.d Idaho.., 1.6 



From 1870 to 1874 (the next period for 
which the necessar}^ figures have been ol)- 
tained), the niortality by consumption, })neu- 
monia, etc., was in every 1,000 soldiers 
annually: 

In FI(3i-ida 3 

In Texas an average of. 2.3 

In Montana, Dakota and Minnesota 2 

In New Mexico 2.2 

In Colorado, Nebraska, Wyoming and 

Utah ^ 1.6 

In Arizona 3.3 

In California 3; 

while in the Department of the Columbia, 
Oregon, Washington and Idaho, the mortality 
by these diseases was a little less than 1 in 
1,000 ; and for the period from 1874 to 1881 it 
was considerably less than 1 in 1,000; — showing 
only about half as much consumption and 
other respiratory disease in this section as in 
any other Department of the United States 
army; — and, as we shall see, less than in the 
British, French, or Italian armies, on the 
Mediterranean, or in Algeria, or in the West 
Indies, or, so far as we can find, in any other 
part of the world. 



9 

But first, the vital statistics of the United 
States census for 1870 (the hitcst yet pub- 
lislied) coincide to a remarkable extent ^yith 
tliese records of the arniy in regard to the 
comparative healtlifulness or unhealthfulness 
of dift'erent States and Territories. Especial!}' 
is this true in the West, Xorthwest and South- 
west. Thus the census of 1870 shows in the 
civil population of the Department of the 
Columbia, viz., Oregon, Washington and 
Idaho, an entire death rate of about 7 per 
1,000; in California of 16, and in Arizona of 
26; and by consumption, pneumonia, etc., 
there died on tlie average in ea'^di 1,000 of the 
civil population of the Department of the 
Columbia (according to the census of 1870) 
1.5 ; in California 3.3, and in Arizona 4.7. 

So that combining these two sets of statistics, 
l)oth in regard to the entire mortality, and 
also to the mortality by the principal diseases, 
we have the ITorth Pacific Slope shown to be 
the very healthiest part of the United States. 



10 



THE CLIMATE OF OUR NORTH PACIFIC SLOPES COM- 
PARED AVITH THAT OF THE SOUTH OF EUROPE, 
ALGERIA, ETC. 

But we will go fnrthei% and say that, so far 
as we have the vital statistics to determine, 
there is no climate in the world that can com- 
pare with that of the northwestern part of 
onr own country, between the Rocky Mount- 
ains and the Pacific. Take Italy, the south 
of France, and Algeria, to which invalids are 
sent, and both the civil and military statistics 
show a luuch higher mortality there than 
here. 

In presenting the following figures, as well 
as the preceding, perfect fairness has been 
observed. Particular years are taken, not at 
all because they favor a theory, but because 
they are obtainable, and in form to be com- 
pared. 

The death rate per annum, by all diseases, 
in the Italian army, from 18G0 to 1876, was 
about 11 in 1,000. Among the soldiers of the 
French army stationed in the south of France 
in 1872, it was 10 in 1,000. In the French 



11 

tirniy in Algeria during the years 1863, 1864, 
1866 and 1870 it was 14.50 ; while in our own 
Department of the Cohimbia, viz., Oregon, 
Washington, and Idaho, the death rate from 
1868 to 1881 was only 3.75 in 1,000 by all 
diseases. 

Why should people cross the rough and 
stormy Atlantic to find healtli, with the 
chances threefold against them, there, as com- 
pared with what they would be on our own 
beautiful mountains and plains, that slope 
from the summit of the continent westward to 
where the setting sun gilds the Pacific waters? 

Or let us compare the figures for the 
diseases of the respiratory organs, including 
consumption, pneumonia, etc., and we have 
among the soldiers in the south of France 
(including the health resorts of iTice, Men- 
tone, etc.,) for the year 1872, an average 
death rate, by these diseases, of 2.4 per 1,000 
annually. In the French army in Algeria 
during the years 1863, 1864, and 1866, it was, 
1)y these diseases, more than 3 in 1,000 annu- 
ally ; and in the Italian army during tlie years 
1867, 1868, and 1869, and 1874, 1875, and 1876, 



12 

the fleatlis by respiratory diseases, including 
consumption, etc., averaged nearly 4 in 1,000 
annually; while in our own Department of 
the Colundjia, ()i'egon, Washington, and 
Idaho, the mortality, by these diseases, from 
1870 to 1881, was less than 1 in 1,000 troops 
annually. 

TUE NORTH PACIFIC SLOPE HEALTHIER THAN ANY 
OTHER PART OF THE WORLD OF WHICH WE HAVE 
THE STATISTICS. 

All this is confirmed in a remarkable man- 
ner by the records of the Medical Department 
of the British army from 1 859 to 1 879. These 
records show the sanitary condition of the 
British soldiers, the diseases and deaths which 
occur at every military station in the British 
Dominions, and consequently represent the 
healthfulness or unhealthfulness of climate 
in portions of every quarter of the globe — 
Europe, Asia, Africa, North and South 
America, and the Islands of Australia, New 
Zealand, and the East and West Indies, — a 
mass of ofiicial and certainly very valuable 
statistics. These sliow every-where a mor- 



13 

tcility iiuieli liiglier tlian in our aSTorth Pacitic 
slope — even'-whero (xcrpf irhen ajpproachwg the 
bitter, in the rieighljoriiig territory of British 
C(>luml)i(i, adjoining Washington and Idaho 
on the north, and liaving a climate very 
similar to these. And here we are struck hy 
tlie fact that these records show a degree of 
iiealthfulness almost exactly the same in 
liritish Columhia as that in the Department 
of the Columbia, on our own side of the 
boundary line. But let us compare the 
tigures. 

From 1859 to 1879 at the British stations of 
(iJibraltar, the Ionian Islands, and Malta, in the 
supposed sanitary zone of the Mediterranean, 
we find an average death rate, by all diseases, 
of about 7.5, 8.4, and 10.5, respectively, in 
each 1,000 troops, per annum ; and by respira- 
tory diseases, including consumption, pneu- 
monia, etc., of 2 in 1,000; being more than 
twice as great as in our Department of the 
C^olumbia. In Australia we find a death rate, 
by all diseases, of 12 in each 1,000 troops 
annually, and by respiratory diseases of over 
5 in 1,000. In Xcav Zealand, of 8.75 by all dis- 



14 

cases, and of nearly 3 per 1,000 by respiratory 
diseases. Japan, Cliina, and the East Indies 
are much worse, having a mortahty of from 
14 to 25 or 30 in 1,000 troops. In the West 
Indies it is, by all diseases, from 10 to 12 and 
13 in 1,000, and by respiratory diseases over 
2 per annum. In England itself the mortality 
is about 8 in 1,000 soldiers, by all diseases, 
annually ; and by respiratory diseases over 3.5, 
In Canada it is between 6 and 7 per 1,000, by 
all diseases, and over 21)y respiratory diseases. 
While in British Columbia, lying immediately 
north of Washington and Idaho, and having 
a climate quite similar, the death rate per 
annum, for the four and a half years the 
British troops were there, was a little over 3 
in 1,000, (3.04), by all diseases, being almost 
exactly the same as among our own soldiers 
in the Department of the Columbia, so 
similarly situated. Indeed, the British troops 
were stationed less than fifty miles from our 
boundaiy line. 

Thus, after making the circuit of the globe 
in search of health, we come back to find our 
own North Pacific slope, and the country ad- 



15 

jacent to it — extending from the Rocky 
Mountains to the coast regions — the healthiest 
countiy, so far as we have any positive and 
reliable evidence, in the vorhL 

And this question of health is, after all, the 
important question, for health is the basis of 
enjoyment of all other blessings — the measure 
of the value of money, and whatever money 
can buy. Only a healthy eye can see all the 
beauties in nature and art. Only a healthy 
palate can taste the full pleasure of eating. 
Only healthy nerves and brain can feel all the 
enjoyment of living. 

But not only is this a land of health ; it is also 
a land of beauty, of grandeur, of fertility ; witli 
mountains scarcely inferior to those of Switzer- 
land; with plains not surpassed in fertility by 
any on the globe; a land refreshed and made 
beautiful by bubbling springs, and rippling 
streams of purest water, and grand with rapid 
rivers and roaring cataracts; a land, in many 
parts, of almost matchless wealth of forest for 
architectural use ; with harbors the most exten- 
sive and beautiful in the world, winding in nu- 
merous branches and coves far into the interior 



16 

of the country, where the shipping of all 
nations could float in safety. And, withal, it 
is a land where nature is mild and peaceful : 
for of the GOO cyclones reported by the Signal 
Service in the United States, and which, in 
other parts of our country, have destroyed 
hundreds of lives and rendered thousands 
houseless, not one is reported in Oregon, Wasfi- 
ington, or Idaho, and only one in California.* 

Moreover, this region is mild in temperature 
both winter and summer. With an average 
thermometer for the year about equal to that 
of Cincinnati or St. Louis, the winter is not 
so cold, nor the summer so warm, by several 
degrees, as at these places. The nights are 
never uncomfortably warm, and the days are 
seldom uncomfortably cold. 

The great elevation of the Rocky Mount- 
ains in Montana and Wyoming forms the 
dividing barrier between two dis'inct climates : 
on the east side the rainfall being mainly in 
summer, and on the west in winter. Also, on 

*See " Professional Papers of the Signal Service, No. 
VII., 18S2." 



17 

the east side tlie winds in winter come mostly 
from the' frozen nortli ; or, if they come across 
from the west, they bring down with them 
the cold of the snowy mountain tops. On 
the other side they come mainly from that 
great reservoir and equalizer of caloric, the 
Pacilic ocean; and in winter the farther they 
travel from the ocean the colder they become ; 
so that as you go west from the Mississipjji 
the winter temperature, at equal altitudes, in- 
creases till you reach the Pacific. 

Thus, taking the reports of the k>ignal 
Service for the years 1S7S, 1879, and 1880, we 
find, on or near the same parallel of latitude, 
the average winter temperature at St. Paul, 
Minn., about 18.o0° — (some parts of Dakota 
being even colder on account of greater ele- 
vation) — at Umatilla, Eastern Oregon, 33.50°, 
and at Portland, •AVestern Oregon, 40.50°. 
Also at Breckenridge, Minn., we have an 
average temperature in winter of 6°, and at 
Olympia, on the same latitude near the 
Pacific, of 37°. 

In summer the case is beautifullv reversed. 



and the temperature l)ecoraes more cool and 
pleasant as we approach the I'acilic. 

It is then no Avild fancy or exaggeration to 
say that this region has the conditions to be- 
come one of the (/ravdcst portions of the earth, 
with apopulati<Mi the healthiest and strongest, 
and, with pro})er institutions and training, 
surpassed by none in civilization and art. 

And millions of fertile acres in this favored 
region are waiting for cultivation — waiting 
for acceptance on the most favorable terms. 
Surely, then, it only needs that these facts be 
properly put l)efore the public to draw a large, 
intellifif'ent and most desirable immis^ration. 

TO THOSE WHO PROPOSE TO TRAVEL FOR HEALTH 
OR PLEA.SUhE. 

The wi'iter has l)een carefullx" and studi- 
ously over the favorite parts of Europe, and 
also of our Pacific slope, with a view both to 
health and beauty of scenery, and he hon- 
estly, and without hesitation, would say to all 
who think of going to Euro})e for health : 
Yoii had Jar Ijetter r/o in t/ie opposite direction. 
The very soil of Europe is saturated with the 



19 

mold andliiiman Ultli of thousands of years; 
wliile in our own great West there is a fresh- 
ness of natnre, and a purity of air, not to be 
found in the crowded countries of the Old 
AVorld. 

If you have a summer vacation to spend, 
go west — the furtlier the better, at least till jou 
get within sight of the Cascade Mountains, 
or of the Coast Range. There, on tlie high 
western plains of. Idaho, or on the pine-clad 
slopes of the Blue Mountains, or of the 
Cascades in Eastei'u Oregon, or Washington, 
or on some favored points of the Coast 
Mountains of California, whence _you can look 
down upon the gleaming waters of Clear 
lake, — at any of these points you will find, in 
summer, an almost cloudless sky, perfect im- 
muuity from rain or heavy dew, a di-y and 
bracing atmosphere, in which you can "sleep 
under the stars,"' fanned by Pacific breezes, 
and l)e wakened each moiMi l)y Aurora 
peeping o"er the ])urplc mountain tops, or 
through your green curtains of aromatic fir- 
tree l)ouglis. , In short, you can thei-e enjoy all 
the sanitary advantages of open-aii" life, both 



20 

night and day. And such a life is strongly 
recommended by the most eminent physicians 
of the Pacific coast, even for consumptive^/" 

Is it natural scenery you would enjoy ? The 
Rhine is not so gi'and as the Colunil)ia break- 
ing through the Cascades. The snowy crests 
of Hood, of St. Helens, and Reiner, and 
Shasta, rival those of Blanc, JungfVau, and 
Rosa. The sun that gilds their summits 
shines from a brighter sky, and invests them 
in more varied and lovel>^ hues. Our great 
traveler. Bayard Taylor, says tliaf nowhere 
else, except in Greece, has he seen such deli- 
cate and ever-changing atmospheric tints as 
among the mountains near the Pacific coast. 

Going there for the first time, is almost like 
jj-oino- to a new world, so many thino's are dif- 
ferent there from here. The Quail lias a dif- 
ferent wliistle; the Lai-k a dift'erent song, — it 
siuo's there as if its throat were fnll and over- 
fio^ving with melody. In Europe you may 
find art ; mit in the AVest you will find health, 
purity of air, and a freshness and beauty of 
nature, which is '"The Art of God." 



WHERE TO FIND 



The Healthiest Chmate 



IN THE UNITED STATES; 



AN'l) SO I'Ai; AS \VK HAVK THE KVIDENCK. 



THE HEALTHIEST IN THE WORLD. 



AS INDICATED BY THK MEDICAL STATISTICS OF THE 

ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES, GREAT BRITAIN, 

FRANCE, ITALY, ETC. 



By E. Y. ROBBINS, 

Corresponding Member of the American Statistical Association. 



CIN'CINNATI : 
ROBERT CLARKE it COMl'ANY. 



